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Which public figures and organizations have publicly criticized Candace Owens and why?
Executive summary
Multiple public figures and organizations have publicly criticized Candace Owens for comments ranging from alleged antisemitism and Holocaust minimization to spreading conspiracy theories and doxxing; critics include Ben Shapiro and The Daily Wire (internal dispute) [1] [2], the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) [3], journalists and outlets calling out Holocaust denial and conspiracies [4] [5], and even foreign public figures who brought legal action after her statements about France’s first lady [6] [7]. Coverage ties the criticism largely to Owens’s post‑October 7, 2023 rhetoric on Israel/antisemitic tropes, claims about the Holocaust, and recent controversial commentary about Charlie Kirk’s death and other public figures [3] [5] [6].
1. Ben Shapiro and The Daily Wire: a high‑profile break over Israel
Ben Shapiro and leadership at The Daily Wire publicly clashed with Candace Owens over her Israel-related comments, calling some of her statements “absolutely disgraceful” and precipitating an end to their relationship; reporting says the split followed months of online infighting about Owens’s stance on the Israel–Hamas war [1] [2]. Forbes and AEI describe a public, acrimonious exchange in which Shapiro objected to Owens’s language about “political Jews” and other criticisms of U.S. support for Israel, framing his reaction as a moral rebuke [2] [1].
2. The Anti‑Defamation League: labeling her rhetoric antisemitic
The Anti‑Defamation League’s backgrounder catalogs Owens as a right‑wing figure who has “come to espouse explicitly antisemitic, anti‑Zionist and anti‑Israel views,” highlighting episodes in which she suggested Israel had undue influence in the U.S. and pushed conspiratorial links [3]. The ADL’s assessment connects specific post‑October 7 statements and an August 17 video to broader concerns about antisemitic tropes, which anchors organized civil‑society criticism [3].
3. Journalists and commentators: accusations of Holocaust minimization and conspiracy‑mongering
Multiple outlets and commentators have criticized Owens for what they describe as Holocaust minimization, promoting conspiracy theories, and engaging in “vile” or “ill‑informed” commentary; opinion pieces and reporting (e.g., JNS, The Independent) frame her recent rhetoric as stepping into Holocaust denial territory or amplifying baseless claims about Israel’s role in high‑profile events [4] [5]. Coverage emphasizes both the content of her claims—such as invoking Israel in unexplained assassinations—and the wider risk of normalizing conspiratorial narratives [5] [4].
4. International fallout: Macron lawsuit and transgressive claims about public figures
Candace Owens drew criticism from France’s highest office after she alleged the French first lady was born male; Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron responded by filing a defamation suit, and outlets report that the Macrons said they sought a retraction before suing [6]. Newsweek and BBC reporting note Owens’s mocking response and place this episode alongside past controversies—such as being denied an Australian visa and prior contentious remarks—which together drew institutional rebukes beyond U.S. commentators [7] [6].
5. Responses from conservative media and allied voices: mixed defense and distancing
Some conservative media figures and audiences have historically defended Owens as a provocative contrarian; however, reporting shows a split within conservative circles over her Israel comments—support from fringe or extremist actors was contrasted with distancing and criticism from mainstream conservatives who viewed her statements as unacceptable, a dynamic visible in the public falling‑out with Daily Wire leadership [2] [1]. Forbes notes that even within her ideological camp, her stance produced “months of infighting” [2].
6. Specific flashpoints: Charlie Kirk’s death and alleged conspiracies
Owens’s public commentary on Charlie Kirk’s assassination—where she has suggested leaks, questioned narratives about his stance on Israel, and echoed theories implicating Israeli influence—prompted further criticism that she was promoting unfounded conspiracies, with outlets characterizing those theories as “unfounded” and warning they amplified antisemitic themes [5] [8]. The Independent explicitly frames some of her claims as part of an antisemitic conspiracy arc [5].
7. What critics say vs. what sources confirm: limits and disagreements
Available sources document who criticized Owens and why (antisemitic rhetoric, Holocaust minimization, conspiracies, doxxing-like proposals, defamatory claims), but they differ in tone and framing: ADL and many journalists present systemic antisemitism concerns [3] [4]; AEI and Forbes emphasize conservative establishment backlash and internal disputes [1] [2]; BBC and Newsweek report legal consequences from international figures [6] [7]. Sources do not uniformly quantify how many individuals or organizations have criticized her, and they do not exhaustively list every critic—available sources do not mention an exhaustive roster beyond the cited organizations and figures [3] [1] [6].
Conclusion: The criticism of Candace Owens comes from across the political and civic spectrum—civil‑society groups like the ADL, mainstream conservative figures and outlets that have publicly distanced themselves, international public figures taking legal action, and journalists condemning conspiracy and Holocaust‑adjacent rhetoric—centering on her statements about Israel, antisemitic tropes, alleged Holocaust minimization, conspiratorial claims, and defamatory public assertions [3] [1] [6] [5].